July 12, 2010 Issue No. 16
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Pecha Kucha Presenters needed!  Slow Money Meeting Tonight!  Peppers & People.
Dear Abundant People,

You know there is a subject that you are passionate about and would love to share with a bunch of folks!  Maybe something about your lifelong dreams, your frustration with the BP disaster, something weird and mechanical, or an exotic flower you found in South America...whatever your subject, it's extremely fun, challenging and great especially if you are shy or have not done much public speaking.  If I can do it, you can do it!  Bring it on for our Volume 7, Pecha Kucha held at the beautiful Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill on July 28th.  Email us if you have a topic @ [email protected]!   

Lots of fun and extremely interesting stuff....read on.....
Slow Money Meeting Tonight @ Chatham Mills, Pittsboro, 7:00pm!
photo credit: Nick Fox, Creative Commons license applies, not for commercial use
the crowd
The Abundance Slow Money project is moving along nicely with 2 loans so far; one to Baker, Lynette Driver and the second to Angelina's Kitchen.  We are very excited and very new.  The second meeting will be held tonight @ Chatham Mills in Pittsboro @ 7.00pm.  If you'd like to be on the SLOW MONEY email newslist, please email us that you'd like to be added.  More specifics are happening on that newsletter.

Our goal is to match local lenders to local food projects.  If you are interested in being on either side, show up tonight or to one of the future meetings that will be held throughout the year across the triangle and possibly further in the state!!
Pecha Kucha Night goes to Chapel Hill!  Flyleaf Books
pecha kucha What exactly is Pecha Kucha?  A few folks thought we sat around and practiced our Japanese with each other, others thought it was some bizarre ritual and no one can pronounce it correctly!!  Pecha Kucha is "the sound of conversation" and the idea was created by an architect firm in Tokyo, Japan.  It has spread across the world and has become an amazing venue for sharing ideas, experiences and inspirations.  Each Presenter has exactly 20 slides (images) and 20 seconds to talk on each one (20x20).  It's fast paced and fun and is the answer to the long drawn out power points that have become the norm. 
 
We are preparing for our Volume 7 Pecha Kucha held July 28th from 7-9:30 in partnership with the independent bookstore, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill.  Doors open at 7, presentations begin at 7:30 and there will be time for discussion at the end.  If you are interested in sharing your idea/concept, send an inquiry to:  [email protected].  Hope to see you there!!
From Soup to Nuts! Kid's Sustainability and Energy Tours
kids tours
We've had a flurry of Children's Sustainability and Energy Tours...everything from C'est Si Bon's Cooking School to NCSU's Engineering Camp to Science Teachers from the Triad.  We love to make an impact on these kids.  They'll be figuring out the energy challenges of our future and the food challenges.  Special Thanks to our funders, Clif Bar Foundation, Rolander Foundation, Alces Foundation and the Women of Fearrington.  You are helping all of our futures!
For educators or home schoolers, if you'd like to schedule a tour, the information is here.
We appreciate everyone's support and comments.  If anyone has questions or would like to get involved in projects focusing on local food, renewable energy and community, please let us know!
 
loads of squash and zucchini,
 

Tamela Schwerin
The Abundance Foundation
October 3rd: 
3rd Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival
If you'd like to get involved, now is the time as we get tshirts designed and screen prints ready!

Bret Jennings, Chef of Elaine's on Franklin made amazing chile rellenos last year!
elaine's


We are ramping up for the 3rd Annual Pepper Festival.  Mark your calendars for an afternoon of peppers from Piedmont Biofarm, local food from our wonderful local restaurants, Holy Ghost Tent Revival will be playing, a King and Queen of Peppers will be crowned and lots more.  Oh, and we'll be needing your data from the pepper tastings.
*Did you know that red and yellow sweet peppers have more than double the Vitamin A and Vitamin C than green peppers?

Nutritional Superfood, they are!!
People Highlight:
Tracy Kondracki

tracy
 The one thing I know about Tracy is that she loves pink.  Tracy first came to the Eco-Industrial Park, she looked around and she said, "I belong here".  She loved the colors and we love having her.  Tracy is the bookkeeper to the Sustainability Rock Stars.  She works with The Change, a very cool, branding company, she keeps Abundance running smoothly and without a glitch for the most part and we thank her for her love of color, for her love of animals and for her adeptness with quickbooks!  When things get hairy, Tracy can always come through with a positive attitude.
Oh, and she has a sweet husband, Rick, too! 
Thank you Tracy!!

Record Turnout for Trekfest!  Wow!

trkfest
 Almost every patch of grass was covered with Trekky lovers.  Around 1200 people showed up, danced, withstood the heat, ate local foods, locopops and there was not that much trash.  A fantastic event and we thank everyone that helped pull this off!  Big Thanks to the Trekky folks, Will and Martin, for being so conscientious and amazing.  Big Thanks to the musicians and the volunteers and to Chris Jude for organization details.
Bread Oven almost done!  Get ready for bread and pizza events!

oven
 Joe Kenlan and the workshop folks had a fantastic 4 Saturdays together and put some finishing touches on this past Saturday.   We may add a little more stone or stucco, but it is almost done!  Stand by for pizza and bread events!  Thank you to everyone who worked on it, to Ramsey, and to Sami and David for being volunteers.
Building our local foodshed, modeling renewable energy and inspiring community.